ACFE CFE - Investigation (Certified Fraud Examiner - Investigation) Practice Test 34

Question 330

Investigators suspect a purchasing manager is linked to a bidding supplier. What is the strongest investigative approach to inspect a company's publicly reported ownership?

  1. Compare business registry addresses and independent occupancy information
  2. Review available ownership filings and supporting independent records
  3. Check the official business registry for current and historical filings
  4. Examine official director and officer filings for the relevant date

Explanation

Correct Answer

B:

Public ownership details may reveal relationships, subject to disclosure limits. Nominees and incomplete registries can obscure ultimate control.

Incorrect Answers

A:

A shared address may indicate common services or relationships; it protects the separate goal to identify a disclosed registered address. Corroboration is needed before inferring a sham entity; that would leave unresolved the present need to inspect a company's publicly reported ownership.

C:

Corporate registries may establish incorporation details and authorized filings; this is a sensible safeguard where the issue is to identify a company's legal existence. Existence alone does not prove a supplier performed the billed work; the priority under these facts is to inspect a company's publicly reported ownership.

D:

Recorded appointments can help test a claimed role; this responds to a different operational need to identify an entity's registered officers. Filing timing and accuracy should be checked before treating a registry entry as definitive; the current question is about how to inspect a company's publicly reported ownership.

Question 331

A contractor has been named in several alleged nonperformance disputes. What should be done to locate earlier civil litigation involving a supplier?

  1. Search authorized court dockets and filed case materials
  2. Review the court's actual order and its scope
  3. Check the relevant court or insolvency registry
  4. Obtain the relevant final judgment or court disposition

Explanation

Correct Answer

A:

Public filings can identify claims, dates, parties, and outcomes. An allegation in a pleading remains an allegation unless supported by findings.

Incorrect Answers

B:

The text of an injunction determines who and what is restrained; it protects the separate goal to find an entity that was named in an injunction. Public summaries may omit exceptions or expiration terms; the facts presented call first for a way to locate earlier civil litigation involving a supplier.

C:

Formal records may identify administrators and filing dates; it protects the separate goal to identify a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding. A rumor about financial distress is not equivalent to a filed proceeding; the immediate evidentiary task here is to locate earlier civil litigation involving a supplier.

D:

Court records distinguish charges, settlements, dismissals, and convictions; it protects the separate goal to verify the outcome of a prior fraud case. Media shorthand can misrepresent the procedural outcome; this case asks for a means to locate earlier civil litigation involving a supplier instead.

Question 332

A due-diligence report says a vendor was convicted, but the source is an old news article. Which action would most reliably help the team to verify the outcome of a prior fraud case?

  1. Review the court's actual order and its scope
  2. Classify the pleading as an unproven assertion and seek corroboration
  3. Check the relevant court or insolvency registry
  4. Search authorized court dockets and filed case materials
  5. Obtain the relevant final judgment or court disposition

Explanation

Correct Answer

E:

Court records distinguish charges, settlements, dismissals, and convictions. Media shorthand can misrepresent the procedural outcome.

Incorrect Answers

A:

The text of an injunction determines who and what is restrained; this concerns the distinct task of deciding how to find an entity that was named in an injunction. Public summaries may omit exceptions or expiration terms; the current question is about how to verify the outcome of a prior fraud case.

B:

Filing a claim establishes that allegations were made, not that they are true; this distinction matters when investigators must assess whether a public lawsuit proves the underlying misconduct. The report should distinguish accusations from adjudicated facts; the investigative step being tested here is how to verify the outcome of a prior fraud case.

C:

Formal records may identify administrators and filing dates; this concerns the distinct task of deciding how to identify a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding. A rumor about financial distress is not equivalent to a filed proceeding; the facts presented call first for a way to verify the outcome of a prior fraud case.

D:

Public filings can identify claims, dates, parties, and outcomes; this is a sensible safeguard where the issue is to locate earlier civil litigation involving a supplier. An allegation in a pleading remains an allegation unless supported by findings; the immediate evidentiary task here is to verify the outcome of a prior fraud case.

Question 333

A borrower says a supplier has entered formal insolvency administration. What would be the most defensible approach to identify a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding?

  1. Check the relevant court or insolvency registry
  2. Obtain the relevant final judgment or court disposition
  3. Examine the court's actual order and its scope
  4. Search authorized court dockets and filed case materials

Explanation

Correct Answer

A:

Formal records may identify administrators and filing dates. A rumor about financial distress is not equivalent to a filed proceeding.

Incorrect Answers

B:

Court records distinguish charges, settlements, dismissals, and convictions; this concerns the distinct task of deciding how to verify the outcome of a prior fraud case. Media shorthand can misrepresent the procedural outcome; the facts presented call first for a way to identify a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding.

C:

The text of an injunction determines who and what is restrained; that principle applies when the team needs to find an entity that was named in an injunction. Public summaries may omit exceptions or expiration terms; the facts presented call first for a way to identify a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding.

D:

Public filings can identify claims, dates, parties, and outcomes; it describes an action suited to locate earlier civil litigation involving a supplier. An allegation in a pleading remains an allegation unless supported by findings; it does not settle how to identify a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding in this situation.

Question 334

The team hears a distributor was restrained from moving contested assets. Which response is most appropriate to find an entity that was named in an injunction?

  1. Obtain the relevant final judgment or court disposition
  2. Verify the relevant court or insolvency registry
  3. Review the court's actual order and its scope
  4. Search authorized court dockets and filed case materials

Explanation

Correct Answer

C:

The text of an injunction determines who and what is restrained. Public summaries may omit exceptions or expiration terms.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Court records distinguish charges, settlements, dismissals, and convictions; that principle applies when the team needs to verify the outcome of a prior fraud case. Media shorthand can misrepresent the procedural outcome; it is not a substitute for a step that would find an entity that was named in an injunction.

B:

Formal records may identify administrators and filing dates; that principle applies when the team needs to identify a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding. A rumor about financial distress is not equivalent to a filed proceeding; that would leave unresolved the present need to find an entity that was named in an injunction.

D:

Public filings can identify claims, dates, parties, and outcomes; its purpose in an investigation is to locate earlier civil litigation involving a supplier. An allegation in a pleading remains an allegation unless supported by findings; the facts presented call first for a way to find an entity that was named in an injunction.

Question 335

An analyst wants to cite an untried complaint as confirmation of a kickback. Which procedure would best allow investigators to assess whether a public lawsuit proves the underlying misconduct?

  1. Classify the pleading as an unproven assertion and seek corroboration
  2. Search authorized court dockets and filed case materials
  3. Obtain the relevant final judgment or court disposition
  4. Review the court's actual order and its scope

Explanation

Correct Answer

A:

Filing a claim establishes that allegations were made, not that they are true. The report should distinguish accusations from adjudicated facts.

Incorrect Answers

B:

Public filings can identify claims, dates, parties, and outcomes; this distinction matters when investigators must locate earlier civil litigation involving a supplier. An allegation in a pleading remains an allegation unless supported by findings; the immediate evidentiary task here is to assess whether a public lawsuit proves the underlying misconduct.

C:

Court records distinguish charges, settlements, dismissals, and convictions; this is primarily relevant when the objective is to verify the outcome of a prior fraud case. Media shorthand can misrepresent the procedural outcome; the immediate evidentiary task here is to assess whether a public lawsuit proves the underlying misconduct.

D:

The text of an injunction determines who and what is restrained; this is primarily relevant when the objective is to find an entity that was named in an injunction. Public summaries may omit exceptions or expiration terms; it does not settle how to assess whether a public lawsuit proves the underlying misconduct in this situation.

Question 336

A subject claims not to own a warehouse identified in asset tracing. What is the strongest investigative approach to check recorded ownership of a suspect property?

  1. Review land-record liens and registered security interests
  2. Use cadastral identifiers and official property search results
  3. Link title records to corporate ownership information
  4. Search the appropriate land or deed registry
  5. Retrieve recorded conveyances and transfer dates

Explanation

Correct Answer

D:

Registered title may identify the legal holder and recorded interests. It does not necessarily establish who supplied the purchase funds.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Recorded encumbrances can help reconstruct financing; that is the consideration when a team tries to identify a property's recorded mortgage. They may not show the current debt balance or beneficial owner; it does not address the specific requirement to check recorded ownership of a suspect property.

B:

Parcel identifiers help avoid homonymous owners and incorrect addresses; this is a sensible safeguard where the issue is to verify that a claimed parcel exists. Geographic databases may have gaps or delays; the current question is about how to check recorded ownership of a suspect property.

C:

Combining records may expose indirect interests; that is why it can help to identify property held through a legal entity. Legal title and ultimate beneficial control are distinct questions; the examiner still needs to check recorded ownership of a suspect property.

E:

Title chronology may establish an asset movement; it supports the separate objective to trace a recent transfer of land title. The reason for the sale and consideration require separate evidence; the priority under these facts is to check recorded ownership of a suspect property.

Question 337

A company director appears to have acquired several expensive residences with borrowed funds. Which step is most appropriate to identify a property's recorded mortgage?

  1. Review land-record liens and registered security interests
  2. Search the appropriate land or deed registry
  3. Use cadastral identifiers and official property search results
  4. Link title records to corporate ownership information

Explanation

Correct Answer

A:

Recorded encumbrances can help reconstruct financing. They may not show the current debt balance or beneficial owner.

Incorrect Answers

B:

Registered title may identify the legal holder and recorded interests; it can be useful for efforts to check recorded ownership of a suspect property. It does not necessarily establish who supplied the purchase funds; the current question is about how to identify a property's recorded mortgage.

C:

Parcel identifiers help avoid homonymous owners and incorrect addresses; it describes an action suited to verify that a claimed parcel exists. Geographic databases may have gaps or delays; the current question is about how to identify a property's recorded mortgage.

D:

Combining records may expose indirect interests; it belongs to a different stage of work: trying to identify property held through a legal entity. Legal title and ultimate beneficial control are distinct questions; it serves another purpose, not the immediate need to identify a property's recorded mortgage.

Question 338

A person under investigation apparently transferred a parcel after learning of the inquiry. The property's informal description also conflicts with the parcel number in the asset schedule. Which TWO record-based checks establish the land's legal identity and transfer history? Choose TWO.

  1. Connect title records to corporate ownership information
  2. Retrieve recorded conveyances and transfer dates
  3. Resolve the conflicting parcel description through official cadastral maps and land-register identifiers
  4. Review land-record liens and registered security interests
  5. Treat a commercial property listing's parcel reference as proof of the recorded conveyance

Explanation

Correct Answers

B:

Title chronology may establish an asset movement. The reason for the sale and consideration require separate evidence.

C:

The informal parcel description must be anchored to cadastral and recorded identifiers before any transfer can be reliably attributed. Verified parcel references can then be matched with the recorded deeds and dated transfer chain.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Combining records may expose indirect interests; this responds to a different operational need to identify property held through a legal entity. Legal title and ultimate beneficial control are distinct questions; it is not a substitute for a step that would trace a recent transfer of land title.

D:

Recorded encumbrances can help reconstruct financing; this is a sensible safeguard where the issue is to identify a property's recorded mortgage. They may not show the current debt balance or beneficial owner; it is not a substitute for a step that would trace a recent transfer of land title.

E:

A listing can use abbreviated or outdated parcel details and does not establish a legal transfer. Use land-registry and cadastral identifiers and examine dated, recorded conveyance documents.

Question 339

A witness mentions a vacation lot that does not appear in the subject's declared assets. What action should the investigation team take to verify that a claimed parcel exists?

  1. Search the appropriate land or deed registry
  2. Review land-record liens and registered security interests
  3. Use cadastral identifiers and official property search results
  4. Connect title records to corporate ownership information

Explanation

Correct Answer

C:

Parcel identifiers help avoid homonymous owners and incorrect addresses. Geographic databases may have gaps or delays.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Registered title may identify the legal holder and recorded interests; it supports the separate objective to check recorded ownership of a suspect property. It does not necessarily establish who supplied the purchase funds; it would not by itself meet the stated need to verify that a claimed parcel exists.

B:

Recorded encumbrances can help reconstruct financing; it describes an action suited to identify a property's recorded mortgage. They may not show the current debt balance or beneficial owner; this case asks for a means to verify that a claimed parcel exists instead.

D:

Combining records may expose indirect interests; it protects the separate goal to identify property held through a legal entity. Legal title and ultimate beneficial control are distinct questions; it would not by itself meet the stated need to verify that a claimed parcel exists.

Question 340

A home appears in a subsidiary's name rather than an individual's. Which investigative method is best suited to identify property held through a legal entity?

  1. Search the appropriate land or deed registry
  2. Review land-record liens and registered security interests
  3. Obtain recorded conveyances and transfer dates
  4. Link title records to corporate ownership information
  5. Use cadastral identifiers and official property search results

Explanation

Correct Answer

D:

Combining records may expose indirect interests. Legal title and ultimate beneficial control are distinct questions.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Registered title may identify the legal holder and recorded interests; that is the consideration when a team tries to check recorded ownership of a suspect property. It does not necessarily establish who supplied the purchase funds; the required investigative decision is to identify property held through a legal entity.

B:

Recorded encumbrances can help reconstruct financing; its purpose in an investigation is to identify a property's recorded mortgage. They may not show the current debt balance or beneficial owner; the immediate evidentiary task here is to identify property held through a legal entity.

C:

Title chronology may establish an asset movement; that is the consideration when a team tries to trace a recent transfer of land title. The reason for the sale and consideration require separate evidence; the immediate evidentiary task here is to identify property held through a legal entity.

E:

Parcel identifiers help avoid homonymous owners and incorrect addresses; its purpose in an investigation is to verify that a claimed parcel exists. Geographic databases may have gaps or delays; it serves another purpose, not the immediate need to identify property held through a legal entity.

Certified Fraud Examiner - Investigation (CFE - Investigation) Practice Tests